Glass Mount Antennas

[radio10-8]

I recently purchased a used vehicle that had 4 glass mount antennas already installed.
A VHF, UHF, 800mhz and an all band. I decided to tint the windows, thus removing the interior couplings. I have heard many arguments about this question. Hopefully here we can get a peacful answer. "Can I reattach the interior coupling over the window tint without any signal loss? Or do I have to cut the tint away from where I will be reattaching the coupling?"

 

[jbstahr]

I recently purchased a used vehicle that had 4 glass mount antennas already installed.
A VHF, UHF, 800mhz and an all band. I decided to tint the windows, thus removing the interior couplings. I have heard many arguments about this question. Hopefully here we can get a peacful answer. "Can I reattach the interior coupling over the window tint without any signal loss? Or do I have to cut the tint away from where I will be reattaching the coupling?"

Glass mount antennas have enough signal loss as it is. I would imagine that the tinting would compound that loss although I do not know to what degree. I suppose it would depend on how dark the tint is and wht it's composition is. If it has any metal compounds in it, forget about it.

 

[RyltnVFD]

I'm confused about how these window mount antennae work. Is there a hole drilled in the windshield with a cable going through?

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Is there a hole drilled in the windshield with a cable going through?

Nope... there's no mechanical connection. They use "capacitive coupling" to get the signal from the outer mast to the inner cable. Now if you want to know what "capacitive coupling" is, I haven't got a clue.

 

[radio10-8]

Good question about the composition of the tint, Installer said this has no metal in it, it has no conductive material. Tint manufactures realized this, otherwise handheld GPS units or scanners would be shielded from full signal. There are no holes drilled thru glass. Small piece on double sided rubber adhesive hold onto glass and the coupling device. Thanks for your input.

 

[wesct]

i would have cut the tint so that you wouldnt have any problems, but if the tint is on, oh well.

wesct

 

[RyltnVFD]

Nope... there's no mechanical connection. They use "capacitive coupling" to get the signal from the outer mast to the inner cable. Now if you want to know what "capacitive coupling" is, I haven't got a clue.

So, what's capacitive coupling? .

 

[Al42]

I recently purchased a used vehicle that had 4 glass mount antennas already installed.
A VHF, UHF, 800mhz and an all band. I decided to tint the windows, thus removing the interior couplings. I have heard many arguments about this question. Hopefully here we can get a peacful answer. "Can I reattach the interior coupling over the window tint without any signal loss? Or do I have to cut the tint away from where I will be reattaching the coupling?"

Definitive answer:

Obtain a small piece of tint film - postage stamp size is sufficient.

Place a cup half-full of water in a microwave oven.

Place the film in the oven (not in the water).

Run the oven for ~60 seconds.

If the film even warms up you'll have to cut it away - it absorbs RF.

(The water will keep the oven from being damaged by heating nothing.)

 

[corbintechboy]

I have had plenty cars with tint. If it were me I would just be really careful and cut what is needed. I think you would be able to do it without it even being noticed.

 

[MacombMonitor]

Some of the better, more expensive tints are metalized, but you've already said yours is not. The other concern would be that your antenna coupler, and cable would eventually pull the tint from the window surface. As others have suggested, if you absolutely have to use them, take a razor blade, and cut out a small square, so your coupler can stick directly to the glass.

But the bottom line is, though-the-glass antennas do not work very well, so if it were me, I wouldn't put them back on. Do you really need four antennas? How about just one good wide band mag mount, or trunk lip mount?

 

[n4yek]

So, what's capacitive coupling? .

Here is a definition.
Danny
N4YEK
http://www.atis.org/tg2k/_capacitive_coupling.html

 

[Jkendr23]

Glass Mount Antenna

I'm a cell phone installer and I've come across this situation many times. The Best and proven-to-work advice that I can give to you is to simply trim the inside tint area, using the attatched outside piece as a guide. Thoroughly clean the trimmed out area with alcohol (rubbing, not drinking ), then attach the inside coupler after it has dried. I'm assuming you have already run your coax.

 

[DSYCUTTER]

i just cut out a small square and mounted directly to glass

 

[radio10-8]

Thank you for all of the input. I do need 1 of the antennas for the cellular phone car kit. The others are really optional at this time because I don't have my radios installed yet. I took your advice and made a cut in the tint, reinstalled the cellular antenna and it works fine, good signal strength. The others are just along for the ride now until I remove them.